Agencies and Services Affected by the Government Shutdown – January 2018

Agencies and Services Affected by the Government Shutdown – January 2018

Living in Northern Virginia (Washington, DC), we are more directly affected by the Government Shutdown.

So, to help you with determining if you are directly affected, we’ve compiled a quick list of Agencies and Services and how you might be affected. As always, please check with your local Agency.

Social Security and other government benefits OPEN

Recipients of Social Security, SSI, unemployment insurance, TANF, food stamps and some other programs will continue to receive benefits. The programs’ spending is not dependent on Congress’s explicit funding. However, some processes related to applying for or appealing these benefits may be stopped.

Medicare and Medicaid OPEN

In the last shutdown, some physician payments were slightly delayed, but the programs continued running.

Veteran’s hospitals OPEN

Congress has already explicitly funded veteran’s hospitals, so they aren’t affected by the shutdown.

Government Facilities Local parks, schools, libraries and city government buildings open

Since these entities are controlled locally and not by the federal government, they are not affected by the shutdown.

Federal prisons open

Congress has already explicitly funded prisons, so they aren’t affected by the shutdown.

Federal courts open

The courts have at least three more weeks of funding after a government shutdown.

Congress OPEN

Congress will continue to work, though some low-level staff may not get paid.

Recreation National parks and monuments open

Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney declared the parks will stay open during a shutdown at Friday’s White House news briefing. Read more

Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo CLOSED

The museums and the zoo have funding to stay open through Sunday but will close on Monday. However, the animals will still be fed. Read more

National Zoo panda cam CLOSED

Bummer.

Travel and Shipping U.S. Postal Service OPEN

The U.S. Postal Service is an independent agency, so it is not affected by the government shutdown.

Passport office maybe

Some passport offices will likely remain open. Those located inside federal buildings will close.

Airports OPEN

Air traffic controllers, TSA officers and customs agents will continue to work at airports.

Amtrak OPEN

Amtrak is only partially funded by the government and “will continue normal operation” during a “short-term” government shutdown, a spokesperson said on Friday.

Other Special counsel Mueller’s Russia investigation OPEN

The probe’s funding is approved by Congress outside of the normal government funding process, so it will not be affected by the shutdown.

Military operations MAYBE

Active-duty troops will continue to work, though some training exercises would cease. Read more

IRS customer service closed

Automated processes will continue, but all processes that require people, such as providing customer service, will close.

Some disaster-recovery efforts CLOSED

Some long-term responses to hurricanes, wildfires and mudslides will pause.

Federal financial aid OPEN

Though 90 percent of Education Department staff will be sent home, people assigned to federal financial aid will continue working.